Chinese Catholics pray for Olympics as torch arrives in Hong Kong

Published: 2008-05-01

BEIJING (CNS) -- Catholics in China prayed for God's blessing on the Olympic Games as the Olympic torch arrived in Hong Kong en route to the capital Beijing. In the capital, where the games are scheduled to begin Aug. 8, Catholics marked the 100-day countdown with a Mass April 30 at Immaculate Conception Cathedral, also known as Nantang or South Church. Bishop Joseph Li Shan of Beijing and about 20 priests concelebrated the Mass, a Beijing diocesan source told the Asian church news agency UCA News the same day. The estimated 1,000 people at the Mass included a dozen seminarians and about 20 nuns. The diocese also invited officials from the municipal government and the Beijing Organizing Committee of the Olympic Games to attend the liturgy. Earlier, Father Zhao Qinglong of the Diocese of Beijing, the leader of the Catholic volunteer team set up to serve in the Olympic Village, told UCA News the diocese would pray at the Mass that the games would proceed smoothly and successfully. He said he wished all athletes good results.

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